Tool caddy

ABSTRACT

A tool caddy attachment for an elongated tank-type suction cleaner is provided to carry tools commonly used by an operator of the suction cleaner. The tool caddy is adapted to be supported by the suction cleaner when the suction cleaner is in its horizontal operating position, and also when it is in its upright or storage position. The tool caddy is also capable of standing in an upright position independent of attachment with the cleaner.

United States Patent 1 Cain [ 1 Nov. 13, 1973 TOOL CADDY [75] Inventor:Jay M. Cain, East Aurora, NY.

[73] Assignee: The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio [22] Filed: July3, 1972 {21] Appl. No.: 268,604

[52] U.S. Cl. 15/257 A, 211/86 [51] Int. Cl A471 9/00 [58] Field ofSearch 15/257 A, 257 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,172 Stoner 15/323Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin Attorney-Alfred G. Gross et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A tool caddy attachment for an elongated tank-type suctioncleaner is provided to carry tools commonly used by an operator of thesuction cleaner. The tool caddy is adapted to be supported by thesuction cleaner when the suction cleaner is in its horizontal operatingposition, and also when it is in its upright or storage position. Thetool caddy is also capable of standing in an upright positionindependent of attachment with the cleaner.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures sum 1 0F 3 PATENTEU NM 1 3 I973 PAIENTEURQHBma 3.771.191

SHEET 2 OF, 3

PATENT) NOV 13 I973 sum 3 or 3 TOOL CADDY BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION A tank-type suction cleaner is used to clean a variety ofsurfaces and places. In order to be effective throughout its range ofcleaning, a number of different nozzles applicable to the differentcleaning situations encountered are required to be attached to the endof a flexible hose which connects the tool to the suctionproducing meansin the suction cleaner.

It is important that the tools be kept in a place where they are readilyaccessible by the cleaner operator in order to allow the operator tohave at hand the proper tool for a particular cleaning situation. It iscommon to have the tools stored in cavities formed within thesuctioncleaner body. It is also common to store tools on an auxiliary devicewhich is affixed to the outside of a suction cleaner. However, themajority of the latter devices are not readily removable from thecleaner and they do not lend themselves to use when the cleaner is bothin an operating position and in a storage position. Furthermore, thesedevices are difficult to store when they are removed from the suctioncleaner.

The instant invention is adapted to be supported by the suction cleanerwhen the latter is in its normal operating position and also when it isplaced in its upright or storage position. The invention is also capableof standing in an upright position independently of attachment with thecleaner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elongatedtank-type suction cleaner in its normal operating position having a toolcaddy attachment complete with tools mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tool caddy attachment detached fromthe suction cleaner without showing any tools mounted thereon.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a tank-type suction cleaner in its vertical orstorage position with an empty tool caddy attachment affixed thereto. a

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of an empty toolcaddy attachment.

FIG. 5 is a view of the top surface of a tool caddy with the tool caddyshown standing in an upright position independent of attachment with asuction cleaner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An elongated tank-type suction cleaner isshown in FIG. 1 in its horizontal or operating position. Affixed to thetop surface of the suction cleaner 10 is a tool caddy 12 having a numberof different cleaning tools mounted thereon. The tool caddy 12 is formedwith a pair of elongated side members 14 extending in a generallylongitudinal direction with respect to the suction cleaner l0.

A handle 16 extends transversely of the elongated side members 14 andconnects one end of each of the elongated side members 14 together. Theopposite ends of the elongated side members 14 are joined together by abase member 18. The base member 18 has a pair of feet 20, one of saidfeet being affixed to each of said elongated side members 14. Theopposite ends of said feet are connected by a rib 22 which extends in adirection parallel to that of the handle 16.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the feet 20 project upwardly from andperpendicular to the top surfaces of the elongated side members 14.Thus, the rib 22 is displaced upward from the plane of the top surfaceof the tool caddy 12. The purpose for having the rib 22 displacedupwardly is to provide a stable base which allows the tool caddy tostand in a vertical position when it is not supported by the suctioncleaner.

A supporting surface 26 extends transversely of the elongated sidemembers 14 and connects the two at a point between the handle 16 and thebase member 18. A lip 28 adjacent the end of the supporting surface 26,nearest the handle 16, also extends between the elongated side members14. As can be seen in FIG. 2, an aperture 30 in the tool caddy 12 isformed between the lip 28, the handle 16 and the elongated side members14. The purpose of this aperture 30 will be discussed in detailhereinafter. v I

Adjacent the supporting surface 26, at its end facing the base member18, is an upwardly facing U-shaped collar 32 which receives therein theswiveled elbow portion 34 of a rug and floor nozzle 36. The nozzleportion of the rug and floor nozzle 36 rests on the support ing surface26.

Adjacent the collar 32 is a pair of bridges 38 and 40, which bridgesrespectively form rectangular apertures 42 and 44. The rectangular nose46 of a crevice tool 48 is wedged within the apertures 42 and 44 forstorage therein.

Adjacent the outside surfaces of the elongated side members 14 andextending between the midpoint thereof and the base member 18 is a pairof tool support flanges 50 and 52. The tool flanges have openings forreceiving the collars of various nozzles 54, 56 and 58. The nozzles thusrest in a vertical position with respect to the tool support flanges 50and 52. The tool support flanges 50, 52 give a saddle-shaped appearanceto the tool caddy 12.

The tool caddy 12 has a plurality of feet 60 which engage the topsurface 62 of the suction cleaner 10 for support thereon. Theaforementioned feet 60 are best seen in FIG. 4. If the tool caddy 12 isplaced on the elongated suction cleaner 10, when the latter is in itshorizontal or operating position, the tool caddy feet 60 engage thecleaner top surface 62. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cleaner handle 64projects through the aperture 30 in the tool caddy 12 such thatthetransversely extending grip portion 66 of the handle 64 is closelyadjacent, and generally coextensive with, the tool caddy handle 16.

The aperture 30 is proportioned such that an operator can insert hishand therein when the cleaner handle grip portion 66 and the tool caddyhandle 16 are in nested relationship. Thus, the cleaner handle gripportion 66 and the tool caddy handle 16 may be grasped together by anoperator for transporting purposes.

When the suction cleaner 10 is in its storage or vertical position asshown in FIG. 3, the cleaner end portion 68, opposite the handle 16,rests on a floor surface 70. The tool caddy 12 remains affixed to thesuction cleaner when in a vertical or upright position since the caddyhandle 16 is interengaged with the cleaner handle 64. I

If it is desired to remove the tool caddy 12 from a suction cleaner 10,when the latter is in its storage position, the operator need only graspthe caddy handle 16 and lift the tool caddy 12 vertically upward. Thiswill cause the cleaner handle 64 to pass out of the aperture 30 in thetool caddy 12.

The tool caddy 12 can then rest on a surface apart from the suctioncleaner in a vertical position by engaging the surface with its basemember 18 and the ends 51 of its tool support flanges 50 and 52. As canbe seen in FIG. 5, when standing in a vertical position unsupported bythe suction cleaner 10, the tool caddy l2 stands with its handle 16projecting upwardly. The tool support flange ends 51 and the bottom ofthe ,rib 22 provide a base for supporting the tool caddy in the uprightposition. The tool caddy 12 can be supported by a suction cleaner 10 ineither its horizontal position or its upright or storage position. Thecleaner can also be supported on a surface in a vertical positionindependent of engagement with the cleaner.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that I have accomplished at least the principal object of myinvention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modifledwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and that theinvention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specificallydescribed, hence it will be appreciated that the hereindisclosedembodiment is illustrative only and that my invention is not limitedthereto.

1 claim:

1. A tool caddy attachment for an elongated tanktype suction cleanernormally operated in a horizontal position, said cleaner having a handlemeans adjacent one end and adapted to be stored in an upright positionon its opposite end, which attachment comprises:

a frame formed of a pair of elongated members having means forsupporting cleaner tools;

a handle extending transversely of and connecting said elongated membersat one end thereof;

said frame being adapted to receive said cleaner handle means betweensaid elongated members with said caddy handle interengageable with saidcleaner handle means to restrict relative longitudinal movement betweensaid caddy and said cleaner when the latter is in either its operatingor its storage position.

2. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 1 wherein; said cleanerhandle includes a transversely extending grip portion located adjacentsaid caddy handle when the latter is interengaged with said cleanerhandle so that said cleaner handle grip portion and said caddy handlemay be grasped together by an operator for transport purposes.

3. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 1 wherein; said frameincludes a transverse member adjacent said frame handle to fonn anopening in said frame through which said suction cleaner handle projectswhen said cleaner handle is interengaged with said frame handle.

4. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 3 wherein; said suctioncleaner includes a horizontal top surface and vertically extending sidewalls and said frame is generally saddle-shaped and a portion of saidelongated members extend over and closely embrace a portion of saidsuction cleaner side walls.

5. A tool caddy attachment as described in claim 4 wherein; said frameincludes a transverse member extending between and connecting the endsof said elongated members opposite said frame handle.

6. A tool caddy attachment for a tank-type suction cleaner having a pairof elongated members; said elongated members extending longitudinallyrelative to the axis of said tank-type suction cleaner and providingtool-holding means; a handle extending transversely of and connectingone end of each of said elongated members; said caddy being adapted torest upon and to be supported by said tank-type suction cleaner whenhorizontally disposed; base means formed at and extending transverselybetween the ends of said elongated members opposite said handle andconnecting the ends thereof; said base means including at least oneoffset portion, offset relative generally to the remainder of said basemeans so that said caddy may stand upright and unassisted when separatedfrom said tank-type suction cleaner with said handle located uppermostin this position.

1. A tool caddy attachment for an elongated tank-type suction cleanernormally operated in a horizontal position, said cleaner having a handlemeans adjacent one end and adapted to be stored in an upright positionon its opposite end, which attachment comprises: a frame formed of apair of elongated members having means for supporting cleaner tools; ahandle extending transversely of and connecting said elongated membersat one end thereof; said frame being adapted to receive said cleanerhandle means between said elongated members with said caddy handleinterengageable with said cleaner handle means to restrict relativelongitudinal movement between said caddy and said cleaner when thelatter is in either its operating or its storage position.
 2. A toolcaddy attachment as described in claim 1 wherein; said cleaner handleincludes a transversely extending grip portion located adjacent saidcaddy handle when the latter is interengaged with said cleaner handle sothat said cleaner handle grip portion and said caddy handle may begrasped together by an operator for transport purposes.
 3. A tool caddyattachment as described in claim 1 wherein; said frame includes atransverse member adjacent said frame handle to form an opening in saidframe through which said suction cleaner handle projects when saidcleaner handle is interengaged with said frame handle.
 4. A tool caddyattachment as described in claim 3 wherein; said suction cleanerincludes a horizontal top surface and vertically extending side wallsand said frame is generally saddle-shaped and a portion of saidelongated members extend over and closely embrace a portion of saidsuction cleaner side walls.
 5. A tool caddy attachment as described inclaim 4 wherein; said frame includes a transverse member extendingbetween and connecting the ends of said elongated members opposite saidframe handle.
 6. A tool caddy attachment for a tank-type suction cleanerhaving a pair of elongated members; said elongated members extendinglongitudinally relative to the axis of said tank-type suction cleanerand providing tool-holding means; a handle extending transversely of andconnecting one end of each of said elongated members; said caddy beingadapted to rest upon and to be supported by said tank-type suctioncleaner when horizontally disposed; base means formed at and extendingtransversely between the ends of said elongated members opposite saidhandle and connecting the ends thereof; said base means including atleast one offset portion, offset relative generally to the remainder ofsaid base means so that said caddy may stand upright and unassisted whenseparated from said tank-type suction cleaner with said handle locateduppermost in this position.